The New York Giants had a busy offseason, addressing various areas of need including linebacker, offensive line, cornerback, safety and backup running back.
Despite the dump of resources into those positions, the team did little to improve another glaring weakness: edge rusher.
While the Giants did slap linebacker Markus Golden with the rarely used unrestricted free agent tender, it’s far from a guarantee that he will return. As such, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report listed “edge rusher” as the Giants’ biggest remaining need of 2020.
The New York Giants defense produced just 36 sacks in 2019. Of those, 10 came from Markus Golden, who remains unsigned, though the Giants did use the rare unrestricted free agent tender on him.
In the draft, New York didn’t take an edge-defender until it grabbed Minnesota’s Carter Coughlin in Round 7. It also signed former Illinois pass-rusher Oluwole Betiku Jr. as an undrafted free agent, but these moves don’t represent a heavy investment in one of the team’s biggest areas of need.
Even if the Giants are able to bring back Golden, they will need an influx of pass-rushing talent. Signing Jadeveon Clowney or trading for Yannick Ngakoue would be ideal—and these options become even more ideal if Golden does not come back to the Big Apple.
It could even make sense for the Giants to take a flier on an aging pass-rusher like Cameron Wake or Terrell Suggs. If New York cannot upgrade its rush, it’s not going to be a contender on the NFC East this season.
With limited cap space remaining, the acquisition of Clowney or Ngakoue seems highly unlikely. Instead, the Giants are likely to implement the New England Patriots/Baltimore Ravens approach the generating pressure — reliance on the system and production from a slew of linebacker.
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